The UNITE Group Plc
UTG:LN
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Overview
Company Profile
Unite is the UK's leading provider of affordable housing for students and key workers.
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Financials
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Corporate
Board of Directors
PHIL WHITE
CHAIRMAN
Phil was appointed chairman in May 2009. The majority of his executive career was spent in the public transport sector, during a period of deregulation and privatisation. He was Chief Executive of National Express Group plc from 1997 to 2006, leading the business through considerable growth both in the UK and overseas. Phil is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Kier Group plc and Lookers plc, and Non-Executive Director of Stagecoach Group plc and Vp plc.
MARK ALLAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Mark was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in September 2006 following three years as Unite Chief Financial Officer. Mark held a variety of other roles in the business prior to that, having joined the Group in 1999. He also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Anchor Trust, England\'s largest not-for-profit provider of services to older people. Mark has overall responsibility for the Group\'s performance against its business plan targets, whilst continuing to develop Unite\'s growth strategy.
JOE LISTER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Joe joined Unite Students in 2002. He was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in January 2008 having previously held a variety of roles, including Investment Director. Joe is responsible for the Group’s finances and investment strategy, the company secretarial function, and chairs the Group’s Major Investment Approval meetings and the Group Risk Committee. Prior to joining Unite, Joe qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
RICHARD SIMPSON
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY
Richard is Managing Director of Property for Unite. He sets the strategic direction for all aspects of the property portfolio, oversees the fund management of Unite’s co-investment vehicles and leads the property development activities. Richard joined Unite in 2005 and has held a variety of senior roles within the Group. He is chair of the British Property Federation’s cross-sector Student Accommodation Committee, and is a qualified chartered surveyor and a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Prior to this, Richard served for six years in the British Army.
RICHARD SMITH
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Richard was appointed as Managing Director of Operations for Unite Students in 2011. His role involves leading the service provided to our 43,000 customers, and managing the maintenance and facilities management across the Group’s portfolio. Richard joined Unite as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in 2010. Prior to this he spent 18 years in the transport industry, working in the UK, Europe, Australia and North America. Richard spent 13 years at National Express Group where he held a range of senior finance, strategy and operations roles, including Group Development Director and Chief Financial Officer, North America.
MANJIT WOLSTENHOLME
SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Manjit qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand. Her background includes roles as Director and Co-Head of Investment Banking at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, and Partner at Gleacher Shacklock. She is Chair of Provident Financial and Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Future plc as well as Chair of Audit and Non-Executive Director of Aviva Investors. Manjit was appointed to the Board at the end of 2011.
PROFESSOR SIR TIM WILSON
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sir Tim was appointed Knight Bachelor for services to Higher Education and to business in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List. He is a strong advocate of the role of Universities in economic development and acknowledged as one of the leading thinkers in University business collaboration. He is the author of the government commissioned Wilson Review of University Industry collaboration, published in March 2012. Formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, Tim served on the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), was Deputy Chair of the CBI Innovation, Science and Technology Committee and a trustee of the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE). He has extensive experience in both UK and international higher education. Tim was appointed to the Board in 2010.
ANDREW JONES
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Andrew Jones is Chief Executive Officer of LondonMetric Property, following the 2013 merger of London & Stamford and Metric. Andrew was a co-founder of Metric and Chief Executive Officer since its inception in March 2010. Andrew’s previous roles include Executive Director and Head of Retail at British Land. He joined British Land in 2005 following the acquisition of Pillar Property where he was on the main Board, with responsibilities for their retail portfolio and the Hercules Unit Trust. Andrew was appointed to the Board in 2013.
LIZ MCMEIKAN
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Liz was appointed Non-Executive Director in February 2014. She has significant experience in customer-focused businesses, Tesco and Colgate Palmolive, where she was successful in driving growth through an understanding of customer needs and an innovative marketing approach. Liz is Senior Independent Director at FTSE 250 pub group JD Wetherspoon and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at at FlyBe plc. She is a Non-Executive Director at import/export fruit and vegetable company, Fresca Group Ltd, and CH & Co Ltd, a privately-owned catering company. In November 2012, Liz was appointed Chair of Moat Homes Ltd, a leading housing association working in the South East.